Shoe bag

ABSTRACT

A shoe bag is provided having a divider and a top drawstring. The divider may further have a concealed pocket, into which may be placed a fragrance or deodorizing insert to mask the odor of shoe wear, and may have a hook for hanging the bag.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/456,510 filed Nov. 9, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/463,728 filed Feb. 22, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to shoe bags, and in particular relates to shoe bags having a divider.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are many different types of bags that are designed for holding shoes and other footwear. These include one-compartment shoe bags (for example, U.S. Pat. No. D 453,994 S of Meissner), bags with drawstrings (for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,818,030 of Arnold with a divider between two shoe-holding portions; D 322,888 of Crawford et al. with two top-connected pouches, D 386,900 of Gummere et al. with two top-connected pouches, bags with zippers and/or strap carriers (for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. D 395,752 of Foster, D 504,230 S of Thomas, D 578,763 S of Walker having two compartments connected by a strap, 1,997,637 of Gebelein, 5,474,163 of West et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0000796 of Kameoka with a boxlike cavity for each shoe), panels with multiple pockets for shoes (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,016 B1 of Carson), shoe holders with separate compartments for each shoe of a pair of shoes where the compartments have a wider end for a shoe heel (for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,497,325 of Scherba, 2,276,765 of De Gree, D 259,677 of Rosenow, D 547,063 S of Soetardjo et al., D 634,931 S of Terrell), and a contoured case for footwear (U.S. Pat. No. D 444,944 S of Smith et al.). Other patents are for simple pouches (for example, U.S. Pat. No. D 584,054 S) that may be used for shoes. There are also patented fasteners for shoe bags (U.S. Pat. No. 1,897,306 of Flint).

Most of the prior shoe bags and holders are basic utilitarian holders of one shape or another, being a simple as a one-compartment bag to more complex shoe bags with two compartments, or a single divided compartment. Some of them are more bulky than is necessary to simply hold a pair of shoes. Very few prior shoe bags are formed to be stylish or designer bags. It is also unknown to provide a fragrance or deodorizing insert in shoe bags. The design also enables the capabilities for reversible usage and toting of various items.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a shoe bag that is both useful and stylish. In addition it is an object of the invention to provide a shoe bag that contains, or can be made to contain, a fragrance or deodorizing insert in a concealed compartment designed for this specific benefit.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bag having a concealed compartment for a fragrance/deodorizer insert to mask odor of shoe wear.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a reversible bag.

It is a further object of the invention herein to provide a bag with a hook for hanging the bag.

It is a further object of the invention herein to provide a bag that may be used for toting of various items jewelry, cosmetics, toiletries, lingerie, and the like.

Other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the following disclosure and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein is a shoe bag with a divider so that a pair of shoes can be separated and protected in one tote along with a top drawstring and concealed compartment for specific use of insertion of fragrance/deodorizer to mask the odor of shoe wear. A hook may be attached to the top of the bag so that it may be hung.

Other objects and features of the inventions will be more fully apparent from the following disclosure and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fabric piece used in a preferred embodiment of a cover of the shoe bag of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a fabric piece used in a preferred embodiment of a lining of the shoe bag of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a fabric piece used in a preferred embodiment of a divider of the shoe bag of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a rat tail used in a preferred embodiment of the shoe bag of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a divider, showing stitching on the divider sides and stitching to form a pocket.

FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of placement of the divider on the lining of the invention before sewing the divider to the lining.

FIG. 7 is a perspective side view of the divider of the invention inserted and sewn within the folded lining.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the cover of the invention sewn together along it sides.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the lining/divider bag of the invention.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of inserting lining/divider bag into the sewn cover.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the cover after being joined to the lining/divider bag.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the inside out joined lining and cover.

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of the assembled shoe bag of the invention showing the top seam.

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the shoe bag of the invention showing the divider within the lining which is surrounded by the cover.

FIG. 15 is a side perspective view of the assembled shoe bag of the invention herein.

FIG. 16 is an elevational view of a hook that may be added to the invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the top of a shoe bag to which the hook is attached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THEREOF

The present invention comprises a bag, preferably used for shoes; however, the bag of the invention may be used for toting of various items jewelry, cosmetics, toiletries, lingerie, and the like. The bag of the invention, when used as a shoe bag in the preferred embodiment, most preferably has a concealed compartment for a fragrance/deodorizer insert to mask odor of shoe wear. The bag of the invention is also reversible.

Most preferably the shoe bag of the invention is made of three separate pieces of fabric: an outside cover fabric, an inside lining fabric and a divider fabric, sewn together as described herein.

Referring now to the figures, the shoe bag of the invention is made as follows. Two pieces of fabric 10 and 16 are cut to rectangles of the same size (FIGS. 1 and 2). Fabric piece 10 has two long sides 12 and two short sides 14. Fabric piece 16 has two long sides 18 and two short sides 20. For shoes sizes of 6-12, these two pieces of fabric are preferably cut to a size of 9×31 inches each. Custom measurements for larger shoes are determined based on the sizes of shoes as needed, as is the case for smaller shoe bags for children. Likewise, shoe bags may be made for all other types, shapes and sizes of footwear without departing from the invention herein.

Fabric piece 10 becomes the shoe bag cover and fabric piece 16 becomes the shoe bag lining when the shoe bag 8 is assembled as discussed below. A third slightly smaller rectangular fabric piece 22 (FIG. 3), with two long sides 24 and two short sides 26, preferably cut to 9×29 inches for the standard shoe size (above), becomes the divider of the shoe bag when sewn as discussed herein.

In the construction of the shoe bag of the invention, the short sides 14, 20 of the fabric pieces 10, 16, respectively, become the “top” of the assembled shoe bag 8.

In the preferred embodiment of the shoe bag of the invention, fabric piece 10 that forms the outer cover of the shoe bag is preferably any possible designer or other attractive fabric as known in the art. Preferably fabric piece 10 is a fabric such as satins, silks, brocades, leathers, cottons. Preferably fabric piece 16 that forms the shoe bag lining is black satin fabric and fabric piece 22 that forms the divider is cardinal red satin fabric. Smooth fabrics such as satin are preferred for the liner and divider, because the satin easily allows addition of shoes to the bag or removal for polishing, while protecting the shoes from scuffs and rubbing together, and is less likely to snag on the shoes or shoe decorations than cotton or rougher fabrics. While the named fabrics are preferred so that an elegant, luxurious designer shoe bag is formed by the method of the invention, other fabric colors and materials may be used as desired by the manufacture and/or a purchaser.

A piece of satin rat tail 28 cut to a 24-inch length is used for the shoe bag drawstring (FIG. 4). Longer or shorter pieces of rat tail may be used for different size bags. If desired, other drawstring materials may be used.

Before beginning sewing the fabric pieces 10, 16, 22 together, the long sides 12, 18, 24 and the short sides 14, 20, 26 of each fabric piece are serged as known in the art, shown by serge stitches 30 on each piece in FIGS. 1-3, or alternatively, are sewed, for example, by zigzagging in a way to reduce thread unraveling. The pieces are then pressed as known in the art, for example, without steam for satin fabric.

Fabric piece 10 (cover) is folded in half crosswise, bringing short sides 14 together and forming a fold edge 32 as indicated in FIG. 13, with the fabric right side being outside, and is pressed with low heat and no steam. Fabric piece 16 (lining) is folded in half crosswise, bring short sides 20 together and forming a fold edge 33 as indicated in FIG. 7, with the wrong side up (outside) and pressed with low heat and no steam. Fabric piece 22 (divider) is folded in half crosswise, bring short sides 26 together and forming a fold edge 35 as indicated on FIG. 5, with the right side up (outside) and pressed with low heat and no steam. Fold edge 35 becomes the top of the divider in the assembled shoe bag.

The next step is to sew the divider seams. As shown in FIG. 5, folded fabric piece 22 is stitched in a seam 34 (preferably a 1-inch seam) along each of the long sides 24, perpendicular to fold edge 35, leaving an opening 36 along one long side 24. In the preferred embodiment, the opening 36 is 3 inches long, with an end of the opening 36 being 1 inch from the short sides 26.

Preferably, a bottom cross-seam 38 is stitched one inch from the short sides 26 of fabric piece 22 (divider) and a second cross-seam 40 is stitched four inches from the short sides 26 as shown in FIG. 5 to form a concealed pocket 42 that is three inches wide in fabric piece 22. The concealed pocket 42 is thus open at opening 36 along a long side 24. Alternatively, the concealed pocket 42 may be formed or located on the divider by other means known in the art. A hem 44 is sewn along the long sides 24 at the opening 36 so that the opening 36 of the concealed pocket 42 has a clean finished look. Although a preferred size, location and design of this concealed pocket 42 is given herein, the location, size and design of the concealed pocket 42 may vary.

To attach fabric piece 22 (divider) to fabric piece 16 (lining), stitched fabric piece 22 (stitched as above) is placed on fabric piece 16 with folded edge 35 one inch below one of the short sides 20 of fabric piece 16 as shown in FIG. 6. Fabric piece 16 is folded so that both short sides 20 are aligned (FIG. 7). A one-inch straight seam 46 is sewn along long sides 18, 24, through both layers of fabric piece 16 and both layers of fabric piece 22 being careful not to sew opening 36 shut. Also, a three-inch tag opening 48 is left along one of the long sides 18. While the tag opening 48 may be placed anywhere, a preferred location is toward the short sides 20 on the same or opposite side as opening 36 toward fold edge 35. The attached fabric pieces 16, 22 are turned inside out, so that fabric piece 22 (divider) is outside and fabric piece 16 (lining) is inside to form a turned lining/divider bag 50 (FIG. 9).

On folded fabric piece 10 that is right side outside (FIG. 8), a one-inch seam 52 is sewn along each of the long sides 12, perpendicular to fold edge 32 and short sides 14 to form a cover bag 56. On one of the sides, however, the whole side is not stitched, but a ½-inch gap 54, ½ inch from the short sides 14 is left as shown so there is a place for the later-inserted drawstring 28.

Bag 56 formed by sewn fabric piece 10 is turned so that the right side of the fabric is inside (FIG. 10). The turned lining/divider bag 50 is placed inside cover bag 56 that still has the right side of the fabric inside, with care being taken to align the side seams 46, 52. Bag 56 is pinned to lining/divider 50 so the tops of each bag are evenly aligned with lining/divider bag 50 inside bag 56 and a seam line 58 is sewn around the top of bag 56 and the top of turned lining/divider bag 50 to form a joined double bag 60 (FIG. 11) When sewing the liner and cover together it is important that there is enough room left to sew the 1″ pocket for the rat tail while making sure that the divider is not sewn. The top of joined double bag 60 is serged.

A hook 70 may be optionally attached to bag 8. A hook with a base 72 is used. Where a hook 70 (FIG. 16) is attached to the bag 8, after serging the hook 70 is placed upside down (toward the right side of the bag 8), where the lining/divider bag 50 and bag 56 are aligned as shown in FIG. 17. Once the bag is turned right side out, the hook 70 is in the correct position (toward the outside of bag 8). A straight stitch is sewn over the hook 70 multiple times, securing hook 70 into place so that it can withstand resistance for the weight of boots and other shoes when used to hang the bag 8, for example, in a closet.

The fabric piece 16 (lining) is pulled out through the 3″ label tag opening 48 so that both fabric pieces 10, 16 are inside out and still joined together at their short sides 14, 20 (FIG. 12). To turn the joined double bag 60 so that both fabric piece 16 and fabric piece 10 are right side out, fabric piece 10 (cover) is pulled through tag opening 48 (FIG. 12). Then lining/divider 50 can be pushed inside bag 56 so that fabric piece 22 (divider) becomes centrally positioned between fabric piece 16 (lining) and fabric piece 10 (cover) in bag 8 (FIGS. 13-14). Preferably a label/tag 61 is then attached in tag opening 48 of fabric piece 16 (lining) inside bag 50 which forms the cover of shoe bag 8.

A 1-inch top seam 62 joining fabric piece 16 (lining) and fabric piece 20 (cover) is sewn around the top of shoe bag 8 leaving a gap 64 for insertion of the rat tail drawstring 28, as is known in the art, in the space between the top of the bag and top seam 62. The drawstring 28 is threaded around the top of shoe bag 8 so that the drawstring is around the entire top of the shoe bag 8 with both ends of drawstring 28 protruding from gap 64. An acrylic bead or other object 68 as desired as known in the art for assisting in pulling the drawstring to tie its ends together is attached to each end of drawstring 28. Alternatively, the ends of the drawstring may be knotted as known in the art. The ends of the drawstring 28 are dipped in hot glue, or are otherwise treated as known in the art, to prevent unraveling of the drawstring 28.

Preferably, an insert 66, impregnated or otherwise treated with a fragrance or deodorizing substance as known in the art, is inserted in concealed pocket 42 at some point during the construction of shoe bag 8. Because concealed pocket 42 is open, the particular insert 66 may be varied or inserted at any time, as desired, by the manufacturer and/or purchaser of shoe bag 8. The insert can be replaced at any time or as often as the purchaser chooses. The fragrance/deodorizer pads are preferably manufactured and sold separately.

The invention herein therefore includes shoe bag 8 as well as the above-described method of manufacture of shoe bag 8 or methods equivalent thereto for forming a lined shoe bag with a central divider, preferably having a concealed pocket for insertion of a fragrance/deodorizer insert. The invention further includes any shoe bag comprising an outer cover, at least one shoe compartment, and a concealed pocket inside the shoe bag, most preferably also including a fragrance/deodorizing insert placed in the concealed pocket.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that numerous variations, modifications, and embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A shoe bag, comprising: a) a fabric cover; b) a fabric lining inside the fabric cover; c) a central fabric divider bisecting the shoe bag and having a concealed pocket; and d) a drawstring to close and open the shoe bag.
 2. The shoe bag of claim 1, further comprising a fragrance/deodorizing insert placed in the concealed pocket.
 3. The shoe bag of claim 1, wherein the fabric lining and the fabric divider are made of satin.
 4. The shoe bag of claim 1, wherein the fabric cover is made of a designer fabric.
 5. The shoe bag of claim 1, further comprising a hook attached to the top of the shoe bag.
 6. A method of making a shoe bag, comprising; a) cutting rectangles of fabric pieces for a fabric cover, a fabric lining, and a fabric divider, each fabric piece having two shorter sides and two longer sides; b) cutting a piece of drawstring material; c) folding each fabric piece crosswise by bring the short sides of the fabric piece together; d) stitching the long sides of the divider fabric piece together, and forming a pocket with an opening along one long side of the divider fabric piece; e) attaching the stitched divider fabric piece to the folded lining fabric piece by stitching the stitched divider fabric piece within the folded lining fabric piece to form a liner/divider bag with an opening in the stitching; f) turning the lining/divider bag inside out; g) forming a cover bag by stitching along the long sides of the folded cover fabric piece, leaving a gap for insertion of the drawstring material; h) sewing the turned lining/divider bag inside the cover bag; i) pulling the lining fabric piece through the opening in the stitching; and j) stitching around the top of the shoe bag and threading the drawstring between the lining fabric piece and the cover fabric piece, and between the stitching around the top of the bag and the top of the bag.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising placing a fragrance/deodorizing insert in the pocket.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising serging the long sides of each fabric piece before stitching the fabric piece sides together.
 9. The method of claim 6, further comprising hemming the pocket opening on the divider fabric piece.
 10. The method of claim 6, further comprising attaching a tag label to the opening in the lining/divider bag.
 11. The method of claim 6, further comprising attaching an acrylic bead to each end of the drawstring.
 12. The method of claim 6, further comprising attaching a hook to top of the bag.
 13. A bag comprising an outer cover, at least one compartment, and a concealed pocket inside the bag.
 14. The bag of claim 13, further comprising a fragrance/deodorizing insert placed in the concealed pocket.
 15. The bag of claim 13, further comprising a hook attached to the top of the bag. 